U.S. Embassy Prague hosted the fifth annual Alumni Event of Academy of Patient Organizations (APO). The event attracted almost one hundred participants, two thirds of which represented patient organizations participating in APO activities.

Ambassador Stephen B. King highlighted the importance of patient-centric care, emphasizing that the patient is central to any healthcare system. Jakub Dvoracek, Executive Director of Association of Innovative Pharmaceutical companies (AIFP), which helped found the APO and continues strong support, thanked patient organizations´ representatives for their selfless activity in support of the various organizations. Other distinguished speakers – including director of State Institute for Drug Control Irena Storova, Deputy Minister of Health Helena Rognerova, senator Lubomir Kantor, Director of the Cystic Fibrosis Club Simona Zabranska, and prof. Jan Svihovec representing the Czech Medical Society – also noted the tireless support and feedback from patient organizations which have become more of a professional partner in recent years also thanks to APO.